Inflatable Recreation Devices

ABSTRACT

An inflatable recreation device that provides an open rollable structure sized to receive at least one user (person) therein and to roll, with the user therein, along a surface, is formed by a plurality of joined inflatable tubular members. Inflatable cross members can be provided extending between individual inflatable tubular members or between different locations of the same inflatable tubular members to provide support for and holding surfaces for the user or users within the structure and to strengthen the structure itself. Handles to provide holding locations for a user&#39;s hands and/or feet can also be provided within the structure.

PRIORITY CLAIM

Priority is claimed to copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/724,162 filed Nov. 8, 2012, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is in the field of recreation devices which roll and in which a person can be held in such device to roll with the device as it rolls.

2. Related Art

Various cylindrical and spherical recreational devices have been disclosed wherein a user within the cylinder or sphere walks in a manner to cause the cylinder or sphere to rotate and roll along a water or ground surface to move the cylinder or sphere along the water or ground surface. Examples of such devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,428,015, 3,516,381, 3,664,290, 3,675,259, and 5,385,498. In these devices, the user stands and remains standing within the device as the user walks to cause the device to roll and move along the surface. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,156,486 and 3,334,915 show rigid spherical devices with a seat therein to which a user is strapped to remain in the seat as the device is caused to rotate by the user within the device shifting his or her weight to cause the sphere to rotate along with the user who rotates with the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a plurality of inflatable tubular members are joined to form a hollow inflatable structure that is sized to receive at least one user (person) therein and to roll, with the user therein, along a surface, for the amusement of the user within the structure. The material from which the structures are formed is relatively soft, such as a supported or unsupported vinyl material commonly used for inflatable structures and other inflatable items. Inflatable cross members can be provided extending between individual inflatable tubular members or between different locations of the same inflatable tubular members. The inflatable cross members are provided mainly to provide support for and holding surfaces for the user or users within the structure, but can also strength the structure itself. Handles to provide holding locations for a user's hands and/or feet can also be provided within the cylinder.

In one embodiment of the invention, the inflatable structure takes the form of a cylinder with inside diameter large enough to allow a user (person) of the type expected to use the device to stand within the cylinder. For use by teenagers or adults, an inside diameter of about sixty eight inches has been found satisfactory. For smaller children, the inside diameter can be less. When forming a cylindrical structure, individual inflatable tubes are formed side-by-side, generally substantially circular in shape and concentric with the axis of the cylinder. The number of side-by-side inflatable tubes and the size of the individual side-by-side tubes will depend upon the desired length of the cylinder and the strength of the material being used to form the cylinder.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the inflatable structure takes the form of a sphere, again with an inside diameter large enough to allow a user (person) of the type expected to use the device to stand within the sphere. When forming a spherical structure, individual inflatable tubes are generally connected at the top and bottom of the sphere and extend in semicircular shape between the top and bottom connections. Usually cross members will be required to maintain the semicircular shape. Again, the number of inflatable tubes and the size of the individual tubes will depend upon the desired size of the sphere and the strength of the material being used to form the individual inflatable tubes used to form the sphere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of particular embodiments of the invention; and, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a cylindrical embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the cylindrical embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of a spherical embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the spherical embodiment of FIG. 4.

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

A cylindrical embodiment 10 of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. An inflatable cylindrical structure is formed by inflating individual inflatable tubes 12 that are arranged side-by-side along the length of the cylinder 10. Each of the tubes 12 may be formed separately and the separate tubes joined along adjacent edges in any suitable manner such as by gluing or plastic welding as is well known in the art. Generally, however, with an elongated structure such as the cylindrical structure shown, the individual inflatable tubes will be formed as an integral part of an elongate mat, FIG. 3, by securing baffles between spaced sheets of material with the baffles dividing the mat into a plurality of individual compartments or tubes. In this case, a sheet of supported or unsupported vinyl material 14 may form the outside of the cylinder and a second sheet of supported or unsupported vinyl material 16 may form the inside if the cylinder. Opposite ends 18 are attached between opposite side edges of the sheets 14 and 16. Baffles 20 are secured between sheets 14 and 16 to form the individual chambers or inflatable tubes 12. Where a plurality of individual inflatable tubes are to be formed, the baffles will form individual sealed chambers with each of the sealed chambers having to be inflated separately. This construction is well known in the inflatable art. In the present situation where it is desirable to have a strong outer surface for rolling along the ground surface without puncturing, the outer sheet 14 can be supported vinyl, which is reinforced vinyl and is stronger than unreinforced vinyl, and the inner sheet upon which users can fall as the cylinder is rotating, can be unsupported vinyl, which is generally softer material that the supported vinyl, but not as strong.

Generally it will be advantageous to provide inflatable cross members or braces 22 extending between opposite inside walls of the cylinder as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. While these cross members 22 will help maintain a circular cross sectional shape for the cylinder when rolling along a hard and rough surface, the cylinder will generally be rigid enough when fully inflated to maintain its circular cross sectional shape. However, the cross members 22 will provide support for users within the cylinder when rolling along a hard and rough surface. Cross members oriented in a cross configuration as shown have been found satisfactory, and if desired, an axle can be provided supported by the cross members. Each cross shaped set of cross members will generally be a separate sealed inflatable chamber that will be separately inflated. Additionally, handles 24 can be provided at various locations around the inside of the cylinder to provide hand and foot holds for users, and handles 26 can be positioned around the ends of the cylinder, which can be use for transporting the cylinder and for rolling or stopping the cylinder from outside the cylinder.

The cylindrical device of the invention can be used on land or in the water, and a user can attempt to walk within the cylinder or to hold himself or herself in a position to rotate with the cylinder. Further, the cylindrical structure can be of various sizes. For general teenager and adult use, a cylinder of ninety-two inch outside diameter and sixty-eight inch inside diameter has been found satisfactory. This provides a wall thickness for the cylinder of twelve inches. The cross members 22 can have an outside diameter of eight inches.

A second embodiment of the inflatable structure of the invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this embodiment the device takes the form of an open sphere 30. The open sphere is formed by a plurality of individual inflatable tubular members 32 that are joined together at the top of the sphere and the bottom of the sphere by joiners 34. These joiners 34 can be formed integrally with the plurality of individual inflatable tubular members or can be separately formed and secured to the ends of the individual inflatable tubular members by any suitable means such as plastic welding or gluing. Separator will be secured in the ends of the individual inflatable tubular members or in the joiners an that separate individual inflatable tubular members are formed, i.e., separate individual air chambers are formed which require separate inflation. Cross members 36 are provided between selected ones of the individual inflatable tubular members 32 to both maintain the semicircular shape of each of the individual inflatable tubular members 32 and to provide support for users inside the open spherical structure. The cross members 36 may also take the form of inflatable tubes. Handles 38 can be provided on cross members 36 and at various locations on the individual inflatable tubular members 32.

As with the cylindrical embodiment, the spherical embodiment can be provided in various sizes. A satisfactory size for teenagers and adults has been found to be an outside diameter of one hundred twenty five inches with the individual inflatable tubular members 32 having an outside diameter of 12 inches. This provides an inside diameter between opposite inflatable tubular members of about one hundred and one inches. The spherical structure of this size can be used with one to five users to roll in any direction, utilizing two adjacent inflatable members to roll on at all times. It is can be utilized as a rotating jungle gym. Because of its softness it becomes its own safety net holding users inside. It creates an unending variety of movement and positioning. While the spherical structure is shown with eight individual inflatable tubular members as spokes forming the sphere, and this works well for the size indicated above, additions members can be added, particularly if a larger sphere is made, or in some cases a lesser number can be used for smaller spheres.

While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below. 

1. An inflatable recreation device comprising: an hollow inflatable rollable structure sized to receive at least one person therein and to roll, with the person therein, on a surface for amusement of the person therein.
 2. An inflatable recreation device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow inflatable rollable structure in an inflatable cylinder.
 3. An inflatable recreation device according to claim 2, wherein the inflatable cylinder includes inflatable cross members within the cylinder.
 4. An inflatable recreation device according to claim 2, wherein the inflatable cylinder includes handles within the cylinder for holding hands and/or feet of a person within the cylinder.
 5. An inflatable recreation device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow inflatable rollable structure includes a plurality of inflatable tubes joined together to form an open spherical structure.
 6. An inflatable recreation device according to claim 5, wherein opposite ends of the plurality of inflatable tubes are joined together at the top and the bottom of the spherical structure.
 7. An inflatable recreation device according to claim 5, wherein the open spherical structure includes cross members within the structure. 